06 Sep Overweight Girls, Underweight Boys May Be At Greater Risk of Adult Asthma

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Professor Charlotte Suppli Ulrik MD DMSc et al.
Dept. of Respiratory Medicine
Hvidovre Hospital
Copenhagen, Denmark

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Obesity is a risk factor for new-onset asthma, but the association is incompletely understood. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) BMI in childhood and asthma admissions in early adulthood (until age 45 years).

We used data on BMI measured annually (age 7-13 years) in 321,830 children enrolled in the Copenhagen School Health Records Registry. During the 36-years of follow-up, a total of 2,059 first-time ever hospital admissions for asthma were observed.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Women who were overweight in childhood had a higher risk for hospital admission for asthma in early adulthood compared to women with normal BMI; the risk being 39% higher for women being overweight at age 13.

On the contrary, men who were underweight in childhood had higher risk of asthma admission in early adulthood compared to men with normal BMI; the risk being 24% higher for men being underweight at age 12.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Our study revealed important differences in the association between obesity and asthma in men and women, with overweight increasing the risk for admission in women, whereas underweight increased the risk in men. Our study may point to the possibility of reducing the future burden of more severe asthma by focusing on weight control programmes in childhood.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

European Respiratory Society’s International Congress abstract:

Body mass index at school age and hospital admissions for asthma in early adulthood: A prospective study of 321,830 children

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on September 6, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD